Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

Kurt Kaiser

The Methodist Church in Williamsport was always a place where religious and social events  took place but more importantly, it was a beacon in the community. I didn’t attend there but many of my friends did. Consequently, I was often invited. Since the Constitution does not say “freedom from religion”, it says “freedom of religion”, many school activities took place from time to time at the church. The church was across the street from the school.

Sometime, in the fifties when I was in high school, a known and probably upcoming musician was performing at the Methodist Church. We school students were invited to hear him. We didn’t know who Kurt Kaiser was or anything about him.

He sat at an organ playing and singing in the front of the church. He said that he was entertaining military personnel when a sailor came and told him that had just gotten married and asked if he would play “Beautiful Dreamer”. Kurt said he had promised God that he would only sing and play religious songs but he could play “Blessed Assurance”. It is the same or similar tune as “Beautiful Dreamer”. 

It is hard for me to believe that he came to Williamsport and we school students were privileged to see and hear him when he was relatively unknown. Wow! Kurt Kaiser in Williamsport!

Kurt Kaiser passed away on November 12, 2018 after five decades as a pioneer of modern Christian music. He and his music are known all over the world.

If you want to know more about him, look him up on the internet. Here is one link: 

Kurt Kaiser Passes Away, But His Music Will Pass It On ...
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/november/kurt-kaiser-pass-it-on-composer-word-music-dies.html
Composer Kurt Kaiser, whose popular songs “Pass it On” and “Oh How He Loves You and Me” became staples at Christian camp sing-alongs and youth revivals, died Monday. 

©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2021
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck

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